WASHINGTON, May 21, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI), the nation's leading Hispanic leadership development and educational services organization, today announced September 30-October 2 as the dates for its 36th Annual Hispanic Heritage Month celebration in Washington, D.C. with the theme "Our Time: A Strong America." CHCI hosts the nation's premier events commemorating Hispanic Heritage Month (HHM), which draw more than 3,000 Latino leaders from across the country to its Public Policy Conference, Reyes of Comedy, and Annual Awards Gala in Washington, D.C. Registration for CHCI HHM events is now available at www.chci.org.

Actress, producer, director and philanthropist Salma Hayek Pinault and lifelong educator Dr. Juan Andrade, Jr., president of the United States Hispanic Leadership Institute, will receive CHCI's highest honors, the Medallion of Excellence, at the 36th Annual Awards Gala on October 2.

"This year's Hispanic Heritage Month theme and events reflect the growing strength of our community and the tremendous impact Latinos will have on the future success of America," said Rep. Ruben Hinojosa, CHCI Chair. "The significant professional achievements of our Medallion winners, Salma Hayek Pinault and Dr. Andrade, and especially their passion for giving back to the community, symbolize how far Latinos have come and the positive impact we are having in making America a better place for all of us."

CHCI's Medallion of Excellence awards are presented to an individual who conducts himself or herself in an exemplary manner and who serves as a role model and standard-bearer for the Latino community, particularly Latino youth. The individual must have at least a 15-year record of contributions and accomplishments in his/her field with solid leadership and community involvement. The qualifying factors are philanthropic and civic engagement through the initiation or support of programs that benefit the Hispanic community as a whole in the United States.

Salma Hayek Pinault is an international superstar, not only for her Emmy-winning and Oscar nominated talent on and behind the screen, but also for her passion as a philanthropist and community activist. She is highly active in raising awareness about violence against women and discrimination against immigrants, and since the birth of her daughter, she has added campaigns helping children to her list of charity works through the Salma Hayek Foundation. See her full bio here.

Dr. Juan Andrade, Jr. is co-founder and president of the United States Hispanic Leadership Institute (USHLI), which engages in nonpartisan civic participation to promote education, research, and leadership development. Originally from Brownwood, Texas, Dr. Andrade's strong work ethic and perseverance has taken him from picking cotton and working in meatpacking plants, to receiving the Presidential Citizens Medal from President Bill Clinton, and the National Ohtli Award from the Mexican government. See his full bio here.

CHCI kicks off its 2013 Hispanic Heritage Month events with its annual Public Policy Conference at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center on September 30-October 1. This year, CHCI Chair Rep. Hinojosa will be joined by administration officials, Congressional Hispanic Caucus members, and national experts and scholars to participate in timely discussions of major policy issues affecting the Latino community. To complement the conference, CHCI's Ready to Lead (R2L) program educates and engages high school students in policy discussions while preparing them for college.

On October 1, CHCI will hold its 13th Annual Reyes of Comedy. This popular event features both established Latino comedians as well as emerging Latino talent for a night of exceptional entertainment. This year's event is a sponsor benefit only and all proceeds support CHCI's youth leadership development programs

The closing and premier event of the conference is CHCI's 36th Annual Awards Gala. This prestigious dinner recognizes CHCI's highest honorees and celebrates the outstanding accomplishments of Latino leaders who are giving back to their communities. The Gala draws more than 2,500 guests including federal and local elected officials, corporate and nonprofit leaders, and celebrities.

Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated annually from September 15 - October 15. For CHCI, it also represents an opportunity to feature its highly competitive and nationally acclaimed Latino youth leadership development programs, including two fellowship programs, a congressional internship program, scholarship awards, and a college readiness program, Ready to Lead (R2L) for high school students.

About CHCICongressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI), a nonprofit and nonpartisan 501(c) (3) organization, provides leadership development programs and educational services to students and young emerging leaders. The CHCI Board of Directors is comprised of Hispanic members of Congress, nonprofit, union, and corporate leaders. For more information call CHCI at (202) 543-1771, visit www.chci.org, or join us on Facebook, Twitter (chci), LinkedIn, and YouTube.